We Ought to Give Thanks

We ought to give thanks for all fortune:

if it is "good," because is it good,

if "bad" because it works in us patience, humility,

and the contempt of this world

and the hope of our eternal country.

- C. S. Lewis

Psalm 100

Make a joyful noise to the LORD, all the earth!

Serve the LORD with gladness!

Come into his presence with singing!

Know that the LORD, he is God!

It is he who made us, and we are his;

we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.

Enter his gates with thanksgiving,

and his courts with praise!

Give thanks to him; bless his name!

For the LORD is good;

his steadfast love endures forever,

and his faithfulness to all generations.

Romance Verses Love

Romance is fleeting, but love is long.

Romance is flying, but love is a safe landing.

Romance seeks perfection, but love forgives faults.

Romance anguishes as it waits for the phone to ring

 to bring a voice that says sweet things,

but love is the anguish of waiting for a call that assures

 you someone else is safe and happy.

Romance is suspense, anticipation and surprise, but love is dependability.

Romance is dancing in the moonlight, gazing deep into desired eyes,

but love is saying, "You're tired, honey, I'll get up this time."

Romance is delicious, but love nourishes.

- Anonymous

Soccer and Sewing

This last Saturday marked the end of Isabelle’s soccer season!! The girls had an excellent coach and they worked very hard all season and showed great improvement. They were very excited to be in the championship game for the 4/5th grade girls in their league. Even more exciting is they won the championship game and took home the trophy for 1st place!! Congratulations “Blue Jay Girls”!

Isabelle has also had the blessing of taking sewing lessons the last couple years from a great teacher and friend, Mrs. Dickson! Last year Shelley tagged along to quite a few lessons and finished some projects. This year she has been going more consistently and has greatly benefitted from Mrs. Dickson’s teaching also. Jamie is such a blessing to the girls and myself, and is an excellent teacher. A few years ago I wanted to really learn how to sew and she tried to teach me! I did make some projects including, a corduroy jumper dress that turned out adorable that both girls have worn, but let’s just say that Isabelle and Shelley are quickly on their way to surpassing my sewing abilities…..in fact probably already have! I am so glad that younger ones learn quicker and retain more! Isabelle has made doll dresses, doll quilts, baby quilts, cross stitch projects, pillowcases, cuddle blankets, mends our socks and whips out other little projects! Shelley has made doll quilts, doll dresses, embroidery projects and now finished this most recent doll quilt. A fun little note is that since Shelley is not ready for the machine yet, she carefully hand sewed this quilt. This is an especially sweet accomplishment when we consider her extremely shaky hands when we first brought her and William home to us and their "forever home". Times like these are blessed reminders of the work the Lord has done in their little lives and in ours since we brought them home for adoption almost 5 years ago.  It is a joy to see her perseverance and steadfast work on such a project! These lessons with Jamie have helped to blossom such creativity in our girls!  Jamie has really shared her knowledge, her time and her heart with them and I am so thankful that she is instilling in them skills that will last a lifetime!

Friday at the Farm...

...Stoney Ridge Farm that is! Since Sweet R was here with Papa and Gigi on Friday, I was able to take the younger 4 children on a field trip with friends to our local Stoney Ridge Farms.  We really love Stoney Ridge ...and Naomi and her children :-).... and since we do not get to go every year it is truly a treat for our young ones!  It was a perfect fall day and the farm was beautiful!  We enjoyed plenty of pumpkins, animals, a tractor/wagon ride, hay ride, corn maze and very nummy pumpkin cookies!  Naomi and I REALLY enjoyed the apple pie ala’ mode with hot caramel sauce amply poured over the top…..that was to die for!  Thanks to Naomi for the photos….I forgot to charge my camera battery the day before! The kids and I got to end our morning adventure with a visit we had planned with a dear friend and her girls who live across the road from the Farm.  I wasn’t exactly sure if the visit would happen as plans with a 3 ½ year old can quickly change…but all was well and we enjoyed fall sunshine and fellowship with dear friends….it doesn’t get much better than that!!

Reprieve

Psalm 59:16

But I will sing of your strength; I will sing aloud of your steadfast

love in the morning. For you have been to me a fortress

and a refuge in the day of my distress.

I cannot believe how quickly the time has passed and that I am so far behind in updating! We have had a good few weeks with so many enjoyable moments in both our care for Papa and Gigi and in our own little family. I praise the Lord that I am able to say that my sweet Gigi is doing better and she remains at home with us. For reason’s unknown to us or her physician, she has had a few weeks of reprieve in her episodes of aggression. Her doctor is unable to say for sure if she is progressing out of this stage or if she is simply having a good few weeks. We have had some small snippets of difficult days again over the last week with yesterday being the worst in quite a while, but nothing compared to what we had endured the last few months. One of the richest blessings of this reprieve is her renewed tenderness towards those of us caring for her. I personally have been the recipient of many kisses, hugs and reciprocal “I love you’s” over the last few weeks. I cannot tell you how deeply these moments have blessed the granddaughter in me. Even with the practical knowledge of Alzheimer’s disease, being purposeful to protect my heart, and the understanding that what she says or does is not directed to me as a granddaughter; the words and actions have still managed to leave sadness and small wounds in my soul. These last few weeks have helped to renew our spirits and bolster our strength as we continue to care for both Papa and Gigi. Unfortunately many other facets of the disease continue to cause her decline and sadly we see her struggle more. She is having a very difficult time walking and in my thoughts, from the nature of the disease, she might only have a few more months before she is in a wheelchair full time. Her speech is far more jumbled and in trying to hold a conversation with her, quite a few words are unintelligible. She of course doesn’t know who I or many others are most every day. Last night she asked me… “have I met these people before?” referring to Papa and Mitchell. Since we were standing behind Papa, I thought bringing her to see his face might help, but sadly it did not. When I told her he was her husband of 64 years she gasped slightly and said…”what…really?”. As difficult as that was, it was hardest to see Papa’s face sadden as he realized what was happening. He has suffered greatest, second only to Gigi, with this terrible disease. He will often lament….”that awful Alzheimer’s… she is still here, but she’s already gone”. The pain of watching the love of your life slip away before your eyes has to be agonizing. He is still so faithful in loving her through precious words even though he is unable to help in action. He is a sweet example to each of us of Galatians 5:22-23 …. “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.” In the physical realm, Papa himself has seen some decline over the last few months but overall he remains pretty steady. We have noticed of late his strength for transferring from wheelchair to bed or chair is diminishing both in his arms and legs. He has had a couple more prominent “senior moments” in reference to memory and confusion, but nothing outside of the natural scope of aging for a 92 year old man! He gladly attests to the faithfulness of his heavenly Father and we are encouraged and blessed by him on a daily basis.

Psalm 138:3

On the day I called, you answered me;

my strength of soul you increased.

Homeschooling is in full swing and the children are truly doing great! Mitchell’s first year of HS has a very full schedule! He is tackling Algebra 2 and Geometry, Writing, English/Grammar, and two online courses….a 10th grade Earth Science course and American Government. In his spare time he is playing football on the freshman team for our local High School and LOVING it! We never thought our current season of life and commitment to Papa and Gigi would allow him to play but the Lord worked out all the details of practice and game schedules. On many practice days he rides his bike round trip so that helps in my time commitment and driving him back and forth. He was blessed to go for a weekend to Silverwood Theme Park with his good buddy Joel and Mr. & Mrs. E. They had a blast and made some fabulous memories! He and his Daddy also had an amazing father/son time away a couple weekends ago,  in part thanks to a rich blessing from an anymous giver.  Their weekend included lots of fun, food, taking in a Seahawks game and.....YIKES.... Daddy teaching the "man child" how to shave! The weekend came about because Chad and Mitchell were completing the last chapter of a great book they had been going through together as they tackle the important area of moral purity. Randy Alcorn has written an excellent resource on the subject in the book …. The Purity Principle. Chad desired to take Mitchell away for a special time as they closed out the last chapter and hoped to include a Seahawks game in the weekend. By the time we added everything up for a night away we knew the ability to spend money on a game simply might not work. I love how the Lord knows even our deepest, unspoken desires and lavishes us with His good pleasure. We had shared our thoughts with no one and yet just over a week later He amazingly provided 2 tickets to a Seahawks game in the mail from an anonymous giver!!! Chad was able to surprise Mitchell with the game as the time away was coming to a close . A simple yet staggering act of kindness from our Heavenly Father….oh how He loves you and me!

Isabelle is greatly enjoying 5th grade…..with Reading, Math and sewing being her favorite subjects! She loves to spend her free time reading, sewing, and dressing up to play school, The Hiding Place or Little House on the Prairie with her younger siblings. She has also been busy with soccer practices and games! Since there is no way we can have multiple children doing many sports at one time we rotate the years of who gets to play a sport among the younger ones. This is Isabelle’s year and she loves the team…especially because she is playing with two of her good friends and making new ones.

It is so sweet to see William and Shelley in their 2nd grade year! Shelley’s favorite subjects are Reading and sewing and Will really enjoys Math! They are both reading well and many concepts seem to simply “click” in the second grade, it is one of my favorite years for the children in school. They are faithful and diligent in their work and are a precious blessing to me as teacher and Momma.

JD…well…what can I say…he is a 3 ½ year old bundle of energy!!! I love that boy immensely but to say “he keeps us hopping” would be the understatement of the century!! Actually we have witnessed some fantastic progress with him! His random screams and fits are fewer and far between, his vocabulary is excellent, and among other positive changes he is now sleeping in his big boy bed!! Also, when it suits his mood he will appease us by tinkling in the toilet! We are no where near finished potty training with him but I continue to have faith and hope in the fact that he will not be 16 and in diapers! He is truly the funniest kid and we LOVE his spunk and personality!

Also Isabelle, William and Shelley were so excited to be in the September wedding of a sweet couple they love dearly! It was an absolutely beautiful wedding and they loved every minute of it!

These few weeks have been sweet. We feel as if we are constantly getting notes, calls or words of encouragement from many friends and family.   We love that your common thread is prayer for us, and we offer our deepest gratitude for your faithfulness to include us in your petitions to our heavenly Father.  We continue to be renewed by the loving hand of our Savior. He knows each of our needs, intimately cares for our deepest woes and continues to provide us with abundant love and strength for each day. It is our great privilege to serve such a gracious and lavish God.

Exodus 15:2

The Lord is my strength and my song,

and he has become my salvation;

this is my God, and I will praise him,

my father’s God, and I will exalt him.



Quotable Kids

JD said something this morning that brought me right back to some sweet childhood memories with Papa.  My Papa loved and spoiled me like crazy, especially in the area of food, sweet treats and eating out…probably greatly contributing to my love of food!  JD was talking to Isabelle, right after breakfast, and trying to convince her to go into Papa and Gigi’s part of our home.  He petitions her….”Isabelle, me go say hi to Papa.” Then with the hopes of snitching some candy corn from Papa’s candy dish he says, ” I have candy… Daddy says NO but Papa says ONE.”

Only One Life

I am sorry to have had such a long silence on our blog.  There is much to catch up on and I do want to give an update, but my free moments are extra limited today so I simply wanted to share a poem with you. The authorship of the poem is debated. I found references to it being authored by C.T. Studd or P. H. Harding and also listed as an Author Unknown. No matter the author, the words are compelling. This is the complete poem of one of my most treasured phrases….”Only one life, ‘twill soon be past, only what’s done for Christ will last.” I will post again soon but for now I hope this poem becomes as precious to you as it is to me.

“Two little lines I heard one day,Traveling along life’s busy way;
Bringing conviction to my heart, And from my mind would not depart;
Only one life, ’twill soon be past, Only what’s done for Christ will last.

Only one life, yes only one, Soon will its fleeting hours be done;
Then, in ‘that day’ my Lord to meet, And stand before His Judgement seat;
Only one life,’twill soon be past, Only what’s done for Christ will last.

Only one life, the still small voice, Gently pleads for a better choice
Bidding me selfish aims to leave, And to God’s holy will to cleave;
Only one life, ’twill soon be past, Only what’s done for Christ will last.

Only one life, a few brief years, Each with its burdens, hopes, and fears;
Each with its clays I must fulfill, living for self or in His will;
Only one life, ’twill soon be past, Only what’s done for Christ will last.

When this bright world would tempt me sore, when Satan would a victory score;
When self would seek to have its way, then help me Lord with joy to say,
Only one life, 'twill soon be past, Only what's done for Christ will last.

Give me Father, a purpose deep, In joy or sorrow Thy word to keep;
Faithful and true what e’er the strife, Pleasing Thee in my daily life;
Only one life, ’twill soon be past, Only what’s done for Christ will last.

Oh let my love with fervor burn, And from the world now let me turn;
Living for Thee, and Thee alone, Bringing Thee pleasure on Thy throne;
Only one life, “twill soon be past, Only what’s done for Christ will last.

Only one life, yes only one, Now let me say,”Thy will be done”;
And when at last I’ll hear the call, I know I’ll say “twas worth it all”;
Only one life,’twill soon be past, Only what’s done for Christ will last. ”

Weep No More

I will rejoice in Jerusalem, and joy in My people;

The voice of weeping shall no longer be heard in her,

nor the voice of crying.

Isaiah 65:19

Once again the Lord has used an entry in C.H. Spurgeon's Morning and Evening Devotions to speak to my heart, I wanted to share it with you.

The glorified weep no more, for all outward causes of grief are gone. There are no broken friendships, nor blighted prospects in heaven. Poverty, famine, peril, persecution, and slander, are unknown there. No pain distresses, no thought of death or bereavement saddens. They weep no more, for they are perfectly sanctified. No “evil heart of unbelief” prompts them to depart from the loving God; they are without fault before His throne, and are fully conformed to His image. Well may they cease to mourn who have ceased to sin. They weep no more because all fear of change is past. They know they are eternally secure. Sin is shut out, and they are shut in. They dwell within a city which shall never be stormed; they bask in a sun which shall never set; they drink of a river which shall never dry; they pluck fruit from a tree which shall never wither. Countless cycles may revolve, but eternity shall not be exhausted, and while eternity endures, their immortality and blessedness shall co-exist with it. They are forever with the Lord. They weep no more because every desire is fulfilled. They cannot wish for anything which they have not in possession. Eye and ear, heart and hand, judgment, imagination, hope, desire, will, all the faculties, are completely satisfied; and imperfect as our present ideas are of the things which God hath prepared for them that love him, yet we know enough, by the revelation of the Spirit, that the saints above are supremely blessed. The joy of Christ, which is an infinite fullness of delight, is in them. They bathe themselves in the bottomless, shoreless sea of infinite beatitude. That same joyful rest remains for us. It may not be far distant. Ere long the weeping willow shall be exchanged for the palm-branch of victory, and sorrow’s dewdrops will be transformed into the pearls of everlasting bliss. “Wherefore comfort one another with these words.”

Heavy Hearts

We are agonizing over the next step with my Gigi. I have been blessed to have an extremely close relationship with my grandparents growing up and into adulthood. There are not many of my most significant memories in childhood and young adult life that do not include them. As a married couple, Chad and I have spent 11 of our 16 years of marriage, together with Papa and Gigi. This relationship has been an invaluable blessing to us. Our children do not know life without them. Mitchell was 3 and we had no other little ones when we first had the privilege of living together. We were always on the same property with their “traveling home” parked next to ours and now we have lived together in this home for almost 4 years. Our hearts desire ALWAYS has been to keep both of them with us until the Lord called them home. Even when Gigi was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease our desire remained the same. Sadly, we are recognizing that for at least this stage of the disease, this might not be a possibility. As Gigi’s Alzheimer's has progressed, so has this stage of aggression. It is one thing to simply be dealing with confusion, hallucination, paranoia, hygiene care and so on but, unfortunately for the last few months, she has become quite physically combative and hostile towards my Papa and us. While she is tiny, every once in a while she can still pack a mean punch and for my Papa, who is essentially helpless in his wheelchair, that is not good. She is still mobile and he becomes an easy target. Most days, morning and evening dressing and undressing, mealtime and much of the day in between have had hours of agitation and hostility that we struggle to control. There are many days she refuses to eat or drink a single meal or any meal, and of course mostly refuses the medication that would help calm her. When she does agree to eat or drink, we are able to slip her medicine into what she is eating but there is truly no consistency in this situation. We have worked hard with the information we have learned about dealing with this stage of the disease, we have tried and are still trying different medication, and we have some help coming in but at this point, we are truly feeling helpless and the struggles are beginning to wear us down. We recognize that we have reached a decision making time as either homeschooling or our care for Gigi will have to be different this year. We know that we simply cannot continue to do both and we feel strongly that we cannot sacrifice our conviction to home school, so we must make changes as we can, as heartbreaking as it is. Simply entertaining the thought of having to move Gigi, is devastating to us and the final decision will not be made without much prayer and heavy hearts. We are currently learning about all of our options including Hospice, dementia homes or even simply respite care. Her physician had mentioned Hospice to us during her last visit, with the understanding that she may not yet meet the criteria needed to bring them in. We have had initial contact with them and will have an evaluation sometime this week or early next and they will determine if she is ready or not. If she is not able to stay at home with us, we are trusting that this move will only be temporary. Even if we have to place her in a home for a little while, our heart's desire is and goal that when this difficult stage is over and she enters the last stage of her disease we will bring her home again until the end. We are praying and trusting the Lord to bring about what He desires in this situation. Very possibly the Lord will supply the perfect solution and we can continue to care for Gigi at home, but for now we feel led to move in this direction.

I cannot express enough how we appreciate your prayers, words of wisdom and encouragement. These are uncharted waters and the ocean ahead looks vast and deep to us. We have been immensely blessed by the circle of support the Lord has given us both practically and prayerfully and we are exceedingly grateful for each of you both near and far.

Psalm 9: 9-10

The Lord also will be a refuge for the oppressed,

A refuge in times of trouble. 

And those who know Your name will put their trust in You;

For You, Lord, have not forsaken those who seek You.

The JOY of the Lord is my strength